Broodys all over the place!

[NH Homesteader]

Nope I never do. I'm a slacker, and I don't go near them when they're sitting cause they're scary! Lol. Last year when we gave up, babies showed up... So.... Who knows.we hatched 3 inside so I know everyone's fertile.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 1 broody now but 2 mamas that hatched 2-3 week ago and we're being over run with blk snakes a few are over 6' in length. Any one have any ideas on what to do to keep them at bay. I can't keep my mamas and chicks penned up I haven't a pen. they all free range on a little over a half acre fenced. I haven't ever killed the blk snakes because they keep the copperheads down and also eat mice and rats but I am really concerned they will get these chicks too.

 

[Beekissed]

Your cats don't go after the chicks? That has mainly kept me from adding any cats here.

I've never had any problem with my cats around my chicks. They just ignore them. One time I had a few really young cats that I showed chicks to and one started to crouch and do the tail twitch. I corrected him verbally and gave him a light tap on the head to snap him out of it and that never happened again. Much like dogs, if your cats respect you, they usually won't touch what is "yours".

Broody mamas also help with that....my broodies are dragon broodies, so any cat coming near their babies is going to get a face full of claws and beak real quick and in a hurry.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I have a Naked Neck hen....best broody I've ever had on the place! She is FIERCE!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats!!

 

[sumi]

Woohoo - A coronation Sussex hatched out what looks like 2 lavender orp and one black orp chick! Not exactly wonderful success since she was on at least a dozen eggs. Now, if she can just keep 'em alive!

Congrats! If she just hatched them there may be some more coming? I had a broody hatched chick arrive 3 days after it's hatch mates once. The poor little thing must've known momma's not going to stick around and wait any longer, it zipped, hatched and tried to walk in about 10 minutes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Both of my mama hens are bantam and don't stand a chance against a 6'blk snake. DH is going to take care of this one if he comes around today.

My bantan frizzle went after my gander once when she had chicks I say once because he picked her up and tossed her into the kiddy pool If I hadn't of come out when I did she'd have drowned. Poor thing was just being protective.